National Republican., 1887-04-12
"HUBBUCK ~
The Most Potential Word That Ever
Tongue of Man wrestied with.

The Most Potential Word That Ever
Tongue of Man wrestied With.
Detroit Free Press.l
at is sometimes said that home and
mother are the most grateful and touch
ing and inspiring words known to man."
remarked gentleman who had just
returned from trip to the far west OF
America.
swell, perhaps they are to the majority
OF men," he added, musingly, "but''-
with sudden emphasls-"I know word
that is easily chief among the 100000 words
in the Imperial Dictionary"
There was general prlcking OF ears of
the company to which the extraordinary
assertion was made.
"I'll tell you how 1t was," he continued,
"Wewerein Colorado-at Georgetown-and
four Of us decided on doing the Argentine
pass Of the Rockies, 1850 feet above the
sea. We started out-four OF us besides the
driver In two horse wagon. The ascent
was steep. / will not say II was perpendic-
1t. PokerishP Well, II some Of you De-
troiters who live on the dead level and have
never seen that magnificent western coun-
try could but family imagine the real poker
ishness OF that climb, you might have some
thing to talk about. But the reality beats
the liveliest Imagination.
1--WE started out, as l said, and all were
in good spirits. ready TO dare anything,
and eager, on the whole, for dangerous ad-
strained ana toiled. Il think we actually
worked harder than the horses) Breathing
became serious question with some Of us
who were unused to the rareied air, but we
were having spirited adventure and didn't
care much FOR the difficulties Of breathing
"When we had mounted 1000 feet, the
awful sublimity OF our situation began to
impress itself upon us. We were not too
igDorantto realize the immediate possibilities
Of annihilation. l believe some of us said
something about the almighty majesty and
the dread power Of the Creator Of o scene
that could SO overwhelm us with awe, and
force down our throats, as 1t were, con-
viction OF our own helpless and pitiful In
significance.
Suddenly we began to feel vague sense
Of danger. What was it2 We asked our
selves. The ladies Of ourparty were livid.
felt despairing sinking, though l spoke
some words that were meanito be reassur-
ing to my fellow travellers. Still that
awful something held US In its clutch. Au-
other instant and weknew! Merciful God.
The horses had become exhausted, and the
weight OF the wagon, ana OF It's human load
was pulling them down.
"Wbat was to be our fateY We should
certainly be killed-horribly mangled may
be.
~ don't know how many deaths we died
In those supreme hours--seconds, mean;
but do know that had given myself up
for lost, and that waited for the tragic ca
tastrophe with desperate calm. Heavens!
How long ] lived In those fearful seconds!
Imagination. swifter than fash Of lightning,
saw my own funeral; saw the group Of
black-clad and weeping mourners; saw my
fatherless children coming year after year
to my grave-aed don't know how many
equally cheering visions.
WHubbuck.'
~ started like one shot. What had hap
pened2 The horses gave lurch forward.
Our descent was checked.
wHubbuck.'
"Hurrah! God be praised We were
moving up the treacherous steep again.
The danger line was passed. 'Hubbuck'
had saved our lives"
"HubbuckS" queried one of the eager lis
teners. "What in blazes do you mean by
"Bless me II l know" was the travellers
reply. "All that can tell about 1t is that's
what the driver yelled at his horses when
they made that forward lurch. And to this
day think Hubbuck the best and the most
moving word in any language the human
tongue ever wrestled with"